NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Hollywood A-listers George Clooney and Amal Clooney hosted the second annual Albie Awards at the New York Public Library on September 28, welcoming a glittering array of influential figures from the entertainment industry.
The Clooney Foundation For Justice (CFJ) sponsors the Albie Awards, which are presented to "courageous defenders of justice who are at great risk for what they do," as per Daily Mail.
The awards, named after Justice Albie Sachs in honor of his crucial contribution to the end of apartheid in South Africa, are intended to draw attention to courageous individuals who have dedicated their lives to justice at tremendous personal risk.
The 2023 Albies were held at the New York Public Library by the Clooney couple and Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation.
According to the Clooney Foundation For Justice, the primary event sponsors for CFJ are Versace, Microsoft, and Charlotte Tilbury Beauty.
The five recipients of this year's awards were a Ukrainian NGO, a Congolese anti-rape activist, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, and the two Iranian journalists whose reporting on Mahsa Amini's murder sparked an uprising for women's life freedom in their nation.
The award recipients whose labor and sacrifices CFJ recognized were supported by notable people from industry, entertainment, fashion, and technology at this year's Albies.
The list of attendees includes Meryl Streep, Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Alicia Keys, Andra Day, John Oliver, Julianna Margulies, and Donatella Versace, to name just a few.
Albie Awards 2023
The Clooneys founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice in 2016. The non-profit, which operates in over 40 nations, provides free legal assistance to anyone who has had their human rights violated anywhere in the world.
Amal and George Clooney stated in August 2022, "Courageous justice defenders around the world face grave dangers that cannot be eliminated overnight."
"But what we can do, in addition to our Foundation’s daily work, is shine a spotlight on the danger that these individuals are facing, raising the stakes for their persecutors."
As per the official website announcement, the Clooney Foundation for Justice presented the following awards during this year's Albies:
1. Lifetime Achievement Award: Given to Dr. Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist and human rights activist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for his selfless leadership in putting an end to rape as a weapon of war and saving the lives of women there.
2. Justice for Women Award: Goes to Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi for their brave reporting, which helped bring Mahsa Amini's death, who was in the custody of the Iranian police for failing to cover her hair, to light.
3. Justice for Survivors Award: Given to Truth Hounds, a Ukrainian human rights NGO, for their efforts to bring justice to the Ukrainian people by exposing war crimes committed during the Russian invasion of the nation.
4. Justice for Journalists Award: Goes to the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression in recognition of their work to promote press freedom, free expression, and other human rights in Syria.
5. Justice for Democracy Defenders Award: Given to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights in recognition of their defense of thousands of students, activists, and journalists who were detained due to Thailand's laws that make free speech and peaceful protest illegal.
CFJ’s Albie Awards red carpet with Geroge and Amal Clooney
The second annual Albie Awards presented by the Clooney duo transformed the city into a glitzy hub where Hollywood flair met noble ideals.
The Hollywood power couple often posed opposite fashion designer Donatella Versace as she slipped into a daringly see-through brocaded gown, revealing her signature wiry figure.
They also had a brief encounter with none other than Charlotte Tilbury, a beauty tycoon who made a statement in a striking outfit with a pattern resembling fish scales.
Several couples treated the event as a date night, including Oscar winner Julianne Moore and her spouse Bart Freundlich and former James Bond Daniel Craig and his actress wife Rachel Weisz.
While Mary J Blige flashed the flesh in a bust-baring minidress with dripping fringe and Jon Stewart wore a classic suit and tie, Anne Hathaway wore a checkerboard-print silver and lime green gown with lace accents.
Heidi Klum, who is presently seated next to Sofia Vergara on the 'America's Got Talent' judging panel, gave the 'Modern Family' bombshell a tender kiss on the cheek.
The 'Vampire Diaries' star Nina Dobrev emphasized her amazingly lean frame in a seductively see-through gown as she posed next to her snowboarder boyfriend Shaun White.
Scarlett Johansson stood out in a sleek, stern black trouser suit that complemented her diminutive frame wonderfully and was accessorized with jewelry by Ana Khouri.
